Friday, July 15, 2016

Within Range: Urban Legend and Beyond

BY SAMANTHA ANNE CARRILLO

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Culture is a two-syllable word with intricate, myriad meaning. If you’re craving the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Burque — and the company ofla gente— join the spectacle at the Duke City Fest Car Show on Sunday, July 17, at MCM Elegante (2020 Menaul NE). If you’re a fan of old-school hip-hop, that’s a definite bonus, as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and DJ Quik will make an appearance.This all-ages fiesta goes down from noon to 7 p.m. and boasts the O.G. hip-hop show, the titular car show, a pit bull show, a kids’ zone, food trucks and vendors. Headlining, harmonizing ’90s phenom Bone Thugs-N-Harmony — think “Thuggish Ruggish Bone,” “1st of tha Month” and “Tha Crossroads” — hail from The 216, aka Cleveland, Ohio.Veteran West Coast rapper DJ Quik and other fest performers rep Compton, Calif., and San Diego-based Chicano rap label Lowlife Records. Outside food and drink are strictly verboten — support local food trucks for an afternoon — but folding chairs are allowed and encouraged. Tickets range from $25 to $50 and are available via holdmyticket.com.

Keith Urban

Fresh off his judge’s slot on the final season of “American Idol,” New Zealand-born country music superstar Keith Urban brings his ripCORD world tour to Burque. On Saturday, July 23, at Isleta Amphitheater (5601 University SE), multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Urban — who’s husband to Nicole Kidman — performs his latest studio album “Ripcord,” along with classic material, starting at 7 p.m.Released in May, “Ripcord” marked Urban’s 10th full-length studio album, and it has met with largely positive critical reviews and heaps of chart magnetism. Hailed as his most electro-pop-influenced release to date, “Ripcord” features a collaboration with disco legend Niles Rodgers and rapper Pitbull titled “Sun Don’t Let Me Down” and “The Fighter,” a duet with Carrie Underwood.Lead single “John Cougar, John Deere and John 3:16” and successors “Break on Me” and “Wasted Time” have all heavily charted. Record-breaking single “Break on Me” made Urban legend with his 19th No. 1 hit on the Billboard All Time Country Chart history; that stat edged out Garth Brooks, y’all.Keep your ears pealed for opener and rising country star Maren Morris. Nashville resident Morris released a debut single titled “My Church” that’s received massive amounts of industry and audience attention. Admission ranges from $30 to $65 and can be purchased via keithurban.net and livenation.com.

New Mexico Jazz Festival

If you haven’t noticed, jazz is in the air. That’s because the 11th annual New Mexico Jazz Festival is under way. Forced to choose fest highlights, here are a couple editor’s picks from among the annual fest’s sonic smorgasbord. Check out album art-inspired exhibition “Off the Record: Artwork Inspired by the Jazz Vinyl Collection of Tom Dodson” through Aug. 28 at Outpost Performance Space (210 Yale SE) through. Alongside a selection of 36 seminal American jazz records and their covers, local artists — including Emily Howe, Reyes Padilla and Larry Bob Phillips — created artwork in response to that cover art. The Inpost Artspace reception for “Off the Record” happens from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 17. This free event is presented by the New Mexico Jazz Festival. Learn more about “Off the Record” at newmexicojazzfestival.com and outpostspace.org. As far as a recommendation for a shouldn’t-miss concert, my vote goes to Dr. Lonnie Smith’s “Evolution” concert at The Lensic Performing Arts Center (211 West San Francisco Street, Santa Fe) on Saturday, July 30. This all-ages recital by the 2017 NEA Jazz Master, who has a half-century of experience with the Hammond B3 organ, is bound to be memorable. A storied composer, musician, performer and recording artist, Smith has been featured on more than 70 albums. Considered by many to be the forefather of acid jazz, Smith’s soundscape is considered less than mainstream, and “Evolution” is his first Blue Note label release in more than 45 years. The mind-expanding gig commences at 7:30 p.m., and tickets run from $20 to $60 at ticketssantafe.org. Samantha Anne Carrillo is a situationist, fourth-wave feminist and arts & entertainment editor at ABQ Free Press. Email her at samantha@freeabq.com
Featured photo credit: Keith Urban

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ABQ Free Press is devoted to analysis, interpretation and explanatory journalism on topics affecting the lives of people in Albuquerque and New Mexico. A significant portion of our effort is devoted to uncovering what the state’s other media overlook.